Police officer deaths on track to increase for third straight year

During the past month, the metro-east area has been hit with the deaths of two police officers.

First, St. Louis County Police Officer Blake Snyder, an Alton-area native, was shot and killed on Oct. 6 while responding to a call in south St. Louis County. An 18-year-old St. Louis man has been charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action in connection with Snyder’s death.